Tucumcari falls in heartbreaker

Tucumcari Rattlers fall to 0-2 in district play after a 26-7 loss to the Texico Wolverines Friday night at Rattler Stadium.

"We are better then this," said Rattlers head coach Daniel Hutchins. "We beat ourselves tonight. Texico is a good team. We just gave up an easy score and did not capitalize on offense.”

The Rattlers offense moved the ball down the field and tried to score quick trailing 26-7 with 2:20 left in the game.

Facing a 4th and 10 situation, the Rattlers lined up to go for it on the 25-yard line. Set up in the wildcat formation, Dalton Wood was under center and Alex Hutchins was lined up as the tight end.

As the play began Hutchins slipped past his defender to the outside and Wood connected with him for a 12-yard gain and a first down. However a late flag from the sideline negated the play and led to a loss of downs.

The call was ineligible man down field, which was Alex. Coach Hutchins sought an explanation from the sidelines and was told that Alex had been covered up on the line making him ineligible to receive.

"My attention was on the ball and getting the first down," Alex Hutchins said. "I caught the ball and put my head down. They said I was covered up on the line."

With that turnover, the Wolverines ran down the clock much like they did in the previous three quarters.

"Keeping Tucumcari offense off the field was our game plan," said Wolverines head coach Ryan Autrey. "We know Tucumcari has speed and they can score quickly with that speed."

Autrey said controlling the clock and keeping to the ground assault was their key to success.

Both teams were scoreless at the end of the first quarter. The Wolverines started the second period with a pair of scores in 18 seconds.

First off runningback Edgardo Meza scored on a 15-yard run. The Wolverines recovered the ensuing kick off and in their first play quarterback Seth Bailey connected with wideout Marcus Pena for a 40-yard touchdown.

The Rattlers answered back quickly with a 60-yard touchdown run by wideout George Montano in a wildcat formation.

Bailey scored again with a quarterback keeper from the 1-yard line and running back Donovan Johnson capped the scoring for the night with a 10-yard rushing touchdown.

"We need to work on our defense," said Alex Hutchins. "We knew we were going to be mismatched with their corners. We are going to keep working and be ready for Santa Rosa come Friday."

The Rattlers play 7 p.m Friday against Santa Rosa Lions at Rattler Stadium.

The Wolverines play 7 p.m. Friday against the Estancia Bears at Estancia